alison bruce... author

Sunday, September 29, 2013

For me, it came like a bolt out of the blue - a match made in cyberspace.

Kat Flannery wanted to write twin, historical romance novellas, set at Christmas time and she invited me to work with her. Since we were writing twin novellas, I suggested twin sisters as the connecting characters. This was because I have twin cousins whose lives have had parallel events in their lives. (Both of them married men named Leslie, for one. This was very confusing since my cousins' names are Lesley and Hilary.)

I don't remember which one of us came up with the Civil War as a setting, but there was a symmetry to the premise. Twin sisters, separated by war. One with a southern family. One with a northern family.

I've haven't collaborated on a work of fiction like this before. There were time when it was a bit like a game. One of us would come up with something about the twins and their family, then the other would find a way of incorporating the detail. Promoting with a partner is a lot more fun too. We each have our strengths in this area and that works out for the best.

I have a couple of other projects waiting my attention but, when I'm caught up. I look forward to new adventures in partnership.

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

HAZARDOUS UNIONS

Twin Tales of a Civil War Christmas

By Alison Bruce and Kat Flannery

Kat and I a pretty excited about the release of HAZARDOUS UNIONS, which, as of writing is only a few days away. We decided to each give away a copy of the ebook... but you have to earn the chance to win.

Test Your Civil War Knowledge

CONTEST WINNERS: LORRIE FARRELLY AND ELIZABETH WITTE-COATES.

Q 1: How many Americans died as a result of the American Civil War?
a. 36,516
b. 58,220
c. 116,516
d. 405,399
e. 625,000

Q 2: Ulysses S. Grant eventually rose to the rank of lieutenant general and commander of all of the Union Armies. To what rank was he commissioned at the beginning of the war?
a. Private
b. Captain
c. Colonel
d. General

Q 3: President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. (New Year’s Day after the Christmas celebrated in HAZARDOUS UNIONS.) Who was being emancipated?
a. All slaves in America
b. Slaves held in the rebellious states
c. Slaves held west of the Mississippi

Q 5: “My captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still,/ My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will,” In these two lines of Oh Captain, My Captain, Walt Whitman is referring to:
a. His father
b. His commanding officer
c. President Lincoln after his assassination